World’s first Robot Chef demonstrated making Crab Bisque in an automated Robotic Kitchen

World’s first Robot Chef demonstrated making Crab Bisque in an automated Robotic Kitchen

Set for commercial launch in 2017, the automated kitchen from Moley Robotics features a dexterous robot integrated into a kitchen that is acclaimed to cook with the skill and flair of a master chef. Once launched, the system will be supported by a digital library of recipes that can be downloaded and created by the automated kitchen.

Two fully articulated hands from the Shadow Robot Company comprise the kitchen s key enabling technology, as they are able to replicate the movements of a human hand using 20 motors, 24 joints and 129 sensors.

When they're not being used, the robotic arms retract from view and when they operate in automated mode, built-in glass screens close off the working area to make the kitchen safe to operate around children, pets or with even with no one at home.

All the ingredients are placed on the worktop and the robot s operator then presses the start button in the personal computer that operates the robot. The robot then copies the steps of the 2011 Master Chef winner Tim Anderson.

Moley has recorded the movements of the Anderson in the database and when the PC which runs the Robots Operating System is started, it executes the steps in the database, which the robot follows.

According to Moley, Anderson first developed a dish that would test the systems capabilities a crab bisque and was then 3D recorded in a special studio cooking it. Every motion and nuance was captured and then translated into digital movement using algorithms created in collaboration between Moley and teams from Shadow, and the Universities of Stamford in the USA and SSSUP Pisa in Italy.

To be honest, I didn t think this was possible. I chose crab bisque as a dish because it s a real challenge for human chef to make well, never mind a machine, Anderson said in a statement. Having seen and tasted the results for myself, I am stunned. This is the beginning of something really significant: a whole new opportunity for producing good food and for people to explore the world s cuisines.

Moley will launch the consumer version of the Robotic Kitchen in 2017 featuring a built-in refrigerator and dishwasher to complement the professional-grade hob and oven. It will be controlled using a built-in touch screen or remotely via a smart phone app.

Later editions will also feature built-in motion capture cameras so home cooks can 3D record themselves preparing their favorite dishes and upload them to the digital recipe library.

World’s first Robot Chef demonstrated making Crab Bisque in an automated Robotic Kitchen